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Man Found Guilty of Murdering Jesse Chavez in Md. Hotel

The man accused of murdering a Prince George's County hotel manager during a robbery learned his fate Wednesday. A jury found Deandre Weems guilty of murder. News4's Tracee Wilkins reports on the reaction to the verdict by the victim's and the suspect's families. (Published Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015)

The man accused of shooting and killing the manager of a hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland was found guilty Wednesday afternoon nearly two years after the murder.

After deliberating about three hours, a jury convicted Deandre Weems of all three counts against him: first-degree murder, robbery and assault.

Weems was accused of robbing the Clarion Hotel on Oct. 21, 2013 and shooting worker Jesse Chavez, 27, when he came to the help of a pregnant coworker.

"We're removing a violent person who had a previous record from our community, who had no regard whatsoever for life," Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said in front of the courthouse in Upper Marlboro.

Deandre Weems Found Guilty in Hotel Murder Case

A jury convicted Deandre Weems of first-degree murder in the October 2013 killing of a worker in an Oxon Hill, Maryland hotel. News4's Tracee Wilkins reports.

(Published Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015)

The suspect, identified by police as Weems, entered the lobby of the hotel at 6400 Oxon Hill Road about 10 p.m., jumped over the counter and demanded money from the front desk clerk, holding a gun to the abdomen of the pregnant woman. Chavez ran to help his coworker and blocked the exit as Weems tried to escape.

Weems did not take the stand during the two-and-a-half-day trial, and his lawyer called no witnesses.

In Weems' defense, his lawyer said cell phone logs placed him 5 miles from the hotel when the shooting occurred. Also, the lawyer said witnesses described the shooter as having short hair but Weems had long dreadlocks.